Studies of Hands and Figures for the Salon du Roi, Palais Bourbon

Studies of Hands and Figures for the Salon du Roi, Palais Bourbon by Eugène Delacroix, dating from 1833-1838, is a crucial preparatory work linked to the artist's monumental decorative commission for the Chamber of Deputies in Paris. Executed in graphite, the drawing exemplifies the meticulous planning required for large-scale historical and allegorical painting during the height of the Romantic period.

The primary focus of this work is the study of human anatomy in motion. Delacroix dedicated significant attention to rendering dynamic representations of hands, capturing various gestures and grips essential for the figures populating the finished ceiling and wall panels of the Salon du Roi. Alongside these detailed anatomical studies, the sheet features multiple sketches of Male Nudes. These figures, depicted in diverse poses, served as models for the mythological and allegorical heroes that formed the core iconography of the Parisian government building’s interior decoration.

The commission for the Palais Bourbon spanned several years and cemented Delacroix's reputation as France's foremost history painter. The complexity of the allegorical cycle demanded hundreds of preliminary drawings, ensuring that the finished oil paintings maintained structural integrity and dramatic expression. This particular graphite drawing demonstrates Delacroix’s masterful use of line and shading to define form and volume. As an essential record of the artist's process, the drawing is currently classified within the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, offering valuable insight into the creative development of the renowned Romantic master. Art historians often utilize preparatory works such as this to understand the transition from sketch to final artwork, and high-quality prints of such historically significant drawings remain popular for academic study.